U.S. Embassy Havana Issues Security Alert on Cuba Nationwide Electrical Grid Collapse

HAVANA — As of 10:43 p.m. EST on August 2, Cuba experienced a total power failure due to a collapse of its electrical grid, according to a U.S. Embassy Havana security alert published August 3, as well as a statement by the Cuban Electric Union on the same day.

The embassy stated that Cuban state-run media reported the reason for the collapse and the timeline to restore power as unknown. All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly. There are reports of cellphone and internet outages.

Cuba’s electrical grid is increasingly unstable, and this is the sixth total grid failure of 2026, with three occurring in July alone.

The electrical system remains vulnerable, and additional regular outages have been occurring more frequently and for longer periods. Scheduled power cuts occur daily, and unscheduled outages persist throughout Cuba with daily deficits of over 60 percent.

Unión Eléctrica de Cuba, the state-run grid operator, confirmed the total disconnection in its own post at 22:43 local time on August 2.

The operator stated it would continue informing the public. No technical cause for the 22:43 total disconnection has been released by Unión Eléctrica or the Ministry of Energy and Mines; both bodies announced the event and activated restoration protocols without identifying a precipitating unit failure, line trip, or other immediate trigger.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the same event, stating that at 22:43 a total disconnection occurred and that all protocols for restoration of the National Electroenergetic System had been activated.

Earlier the same day, at 6:07 p.m. local time on August 2, Unión Eléctrica reported a simultaneous trip of the 220 kV Matanzas-Santa Clara and Matanzas-Cienfuegos lines that caused a partial disconnection of the National Electroenergetic System, leaving Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana, and Matanzas without service. That western-zone interruption was restored by 1:10 a.m. on August 3, according to the same operator.

Recovery of the total disconnection began overnight. At approximately 2:20 a.m. local time on August 3, Unión Eléctrica reported that two units of Energas Boca de Jaruco had synchronized to the system. The Ministry of Energy and Mines issued a matching update at the same hour.

Later on August 3 the Ministry reported that units 1 and 2 of the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant, units 5 and 8 of the Mariel plant, and unit 3 of the Céspedes plant were beginning startup, with unit 6 of Nuevitas, unit 1 of Felton, and the Guiteras plant prepared to start once conditions allowed.

Further updates on full reconnection of the national grid have not been published by the operator or the ministry as of the latest available statements.

Unión Eléctrica’s own records show prior total disconnections on March 16, March 22 (caused by the exit of Unit 6 at Nuevitas leading to a cascade), July 6, July 10 (at 4:30 p.m.), and July 14, making the August 2 event the sixth of 2026 as stated by the U.S. Embassy.

Official Statements

• Unión Eléctrica de Cuba, August 3, 2026: “A total disconnection of the National Electroenergetic System is occurring. We will continue to inform.”

• Ministry of Energy and Mines, August 3, 2026: “At 22:43 tonight a total disconnection occurred. All protocols for the restoration of the Electrical System have already begun to be activated.”

• Ministry of Energy and Mines, August 3, 2026: “Update on SEN restoration. At this hour beginning startup: Units 1 and 2 of Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant, Units 5 and 8 of Mariel thermoelectric plant, Unit 3 of Céspedes thermoelectric plant. Prepared to begin startup when conditions are created: Unit 6 of Nuevitas, Unit 1 of Felton, Guiteras thermoelectric plant.”

• Unión Eléctrica de Cuba, August 3, 2026: “Update on the recovery of the SEN. At this moment, two units of Energas Boca de Jaruco are synchronizing to the electrical system.”

• U.S. Embassy Havana, August 3, 2026: “As of 22:43 EST on August 2, Cuba experienced a total power failure due to a collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid. According to Cuban regime media, the reason for the collapse and the timeline to restore power is unknown. All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly.”